IHEU Welcomes New Member Organizations<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

IHEU’s GA this year welcomed The Humanist Society as a Specialist Member Organization. Formerly known as the Humanist Society of Friends, the group was founded in 1939 when a group of Quakers, influenced by the first Humanist Manifesto, decided to part ways with the Quaker movement and set itself up in California as a religious, educational and charitable non-profit organization. Based today in Washington, DC, the Humanist Society offers Humanist counselling and also certifies Humanist celebrants. Website http://www.hsof.org/

 

The 15-year old Hyderabad Rationalist Forum, which joined the IHEU as an Associate Member Organization, was established to spread rationalist, humanist and atheist ideas, to encourage intercultural marriages and to curb superstitious practices in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The Forum works through monthly lectures, and publishes an English language bimonthly Rationalist Voice. It is affiliated to the Federation of Indian Ratonalist Associations (FIRA) and the Federation of Rationalist, Atheist and Humanist Organizations of Andhra Pradesh (FARA).

 

IHEU is also pleased to welcome the Dutch Humanistisch Vormings Onderwijs (HVO), Utrecht, which has reactivated its status as a Specialist Member Organization of IHEU. HVO specializes in creating Humanist educational resources and training and will play an important role in education-related activities, networking and coordination amongst IHEU member organizations.